French Government Stamps out Dissent

PRESS RELEASE

FRENCH GOVERNMENT STAMPS OUT PROTEST

French Government ministries are blaming each other and the Italian government for the cancellation of a chartered train of protesters.

The train, carrying 450 protesters from the UK was due to travel to the French border to be met by a fleet of coaches taking the demonstrators on to Genoa for the actions against the G8 summit starting o Friday. A fax recieved by Globalise Resistance this morning (Tuesday) informed them of the decision to cancel. Globalise Resistance has been offered a refund, but expenses incurred in advertising and organising other parts of the journey will not be covered.

Guy Taylor for Globalise Resistance said "We are fighting this decision. Democracy without the right of protest means nothing. On our train are pensioners, trade unionists, children, socialists and envirnmentalists. We have already had a huge amount of support for our right to demonstrate. It shows the weakness of the authorities and their policies that they feel it necessary to stop people having a voice at all."

"Our members and supporters will be going to Genoa anyway. While fighting the decision we are booking other means of transport and encouraging everyone to make their own way there. We spent an enormous amount of money on transport and now we're denied the services we have bought - so much for the free market!"

Globalise Resistance members have a 100% clean record on violence. Since setting up in February, not one member has been arrested for a violent crime - although many have been arrested for non-violent protest.

Despina Mavrou, also from Globalise Resistance asked "What are they scared of? We only want to put the case for preserving the environment and cancelling third world debt. This whole thing is ridiculous"

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For more information / interviews please phone:

Amy Jowett: 07947 433 445 Guy Taylor: 07956 681 328 Despina Mavrou: 07940 105 446

SUPPORTING THE CAMPAIGN TO RE-INSTATE THE TRAIN ARE:

Tony Benn (former MP) George Monbiot (activist & columnist) John Pilger (film maker) Noreena Hertz (writer) Louise Christian (human rights lawyer)

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